Pete Huttlinger

His grandfather on his mother’s side, Fred Walker, was an editor of the San Francisco Call-Bulletin, reporting directly to its owner and publisher, William Randolph Hearst.

Huttlinger’s father, Joseph, was a White House correspondent and a publisher of his own newsletter on the oil industry.

He created the theme song for ESPN’s Flyfishing America, a program on which he had made guest appearances.

As a recording artist Huttlinger released numerous albums and received wide-acceptance ranging from his critically acclaimed Naked Pop to Things Are Looking Up.

He toured with John Denver for many years and appears with Country/Pop superstar LeAnn Rimes, including the BBC Television’s “Live From Abbey Road,” a series taped at the famous London studios, and ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars.” In November 2010, Huttlinger suffered a stroke, paralyzing his right side and causing him to lose the ability to speak.

Despite his recovery, Huttlinger eventually suffered end-stage heart failure, the result of congenital cardiac abnormalities.

Huttlinger suffered a second stroke on January 11, 2016, and died four days later at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center at the age of 54.